Social Affairs Reporter

In Australia it is legal for parents to use corporal punishment to discipline children as long as the punishment is 'reasonable' in the circumstances.

A leading group of doctors is pushing to make it a criminal offence for parents to smack their children.

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians will call for the legal amendment on Friday to give children the same protection from assault as other community members.

President of the college's paediatrics and child health division Associate Professor Susan Moloney said physical punishment could escalate to abuse.

"We know that a significant number of child homicides are a result of physical punishment which went wrong," she said. "It started off as physical punishment and went too far."

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Research shows that it can also lead to depression, anxiety, aggression, antisocial behaviour and substance abuse.

In Australia it is legal for parents to use corporal punishment to discipline children as long as the punishment is "reasonable" in the circumstances.

"If you hit your dog you could be arrested, but it's legal to hit your child," Professor Moloney said.

"We protect children with legislation around pool fences and not smoking in cars, for example. This is legislation which would protect children from physical punishment."

The college, which represents 14,000 physicians, will run a public awareness campaign to educate parents about the alternatives to smacking as part of its push for legal reform. It will discuss the proposal with the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) and seek advice from legal experts.

Child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg does not advocate smacking, but believes legislation would be unworkable.

"What are we going to do? Have the smacking police?" he said.

Family therapist Michael Hawton said many good parents smacked simply because they didn't know about alternatives.

"The problem is many parents simply don't know what to do or what the alternatives are so they become frustrated and they smack or they yell," he said.

Dr Justin Coulson, a father of five children aged from three to 13 and parenting author, agreed that education would be key to any legal reform. "I am in favour of legislation, but I don't think it's enforceable," he said. "It's a bit like speeding. Everyone does it and you have to be unlucky to get caught. I would rather see resources going into education."

Dr Coulson's research shows a high degree of acceptance for smacking in Australia, although 33 other countries have legal bans in place that have led to lower rates of child abuse and crime in general.

Roslyn Phillips, research officer with Christian group FamilyVoice Australia, rejected claims that smacking was harmful, saying it was instructive for small children.

"Reasonable discipline teaches very young children who have no understanding of logic where the boundaries are," she said. "A short physical action indicates no. An abusive action by parents is a crime, but a smack is not in that department."

17 comments

And here we are again ignoring reality. If the 33 countries that have a ban in place have had a reduction in child abuse and crime in general, then hey, maybe it's a good idea. Smacking isn't a form of punishment, it's a form of bullying and humiliation. Which they then learn to inflict onto others.

Small children don't learn about boundaries from smacking, all they learn is that the people caring for them can't be trusted. The worst lesson of all.

Maybe Roslyn should have a smack to be reminded of how degrading it is.

Commenter

sarajane

Location

melbourne

Date and time

July 26, 2013, 8:22AM

And you have comprehensive research to back up these gross generalisations??? There is a distinct difference between abuse and reasonable physical discipline and any laws that attempt to treat the two things the same is doomed to fail.

Commenter

simonjohn

Date and time

July 26, 2013, 8:59AM

While we are at it can we ban fathers coming home drunk, neglecting the mothers of their children and having affairs with some floozy at the office? The resultant impact of this type if emotional abuse is at least as bad as physical abuse.

Btw we smack(ed) our kids. But the ratio of hugs:smacks is about 100:1 and hopefully never done in anger or spite. Kids need boundaries and to understand there are consequences from their actions. Better a tap on the bum than finding out one shouldn't stick a knife in a toaster etc.

Political correctness gone mad. Grandpa Joe was right when he said Veruca Salt needed a good kick in the pants (her dad too).

Commenter

HBPB

Date and time

July 26, 2013, 9:04AM

I don't smack. My folks did though

Commenter

Terribla

Location

terribla@gmail.com

Date and time

July 26, 2013, 8:26AM

Smacking is the laziest form of parenting and bring violence no matter how "tame" (Subjective) it is. Where do you draw the line? If your child hits another kid at school and you're a smacker, don't be surprised. It is also super hypocritical and confusing for children when you tell them it's wrong to hit but then you do it do them. The old saying applies "Monkey see, monkey do". To be effective you need to talk to your children, outline the expectations and punish them as needed without violence. A loss of privileges is generally the best option and a great bargaining chip. There is no perfect method and smacking didn't work on me... I have a son who has a cousin the same age who is smacked... Guess who is the more well behaved child? The one who gets "Time out" every time he steps out of line... You have to consistent and you have to make the ground rules clear. We're dealing with very clever human beings who don't forget and have a mind of their own.... So take the lazy smacking parenting route at your own peril.

Commenter

Smacking is lazy

Location

realparentville

Date and time

July 26, 2013, 8:29AM

When you've been a good parent and had that day at the supermarket where your child rolls around on the ground screaming in front of a gathering audience of tutting do-gooders, when you've uttered every idea to get them out of there and into the car, when you have not caved in and given them a chocolate or whatever it is they wanted (you don't want to create a ginormous ego and pay for it for the rest of your life), when you have lived through the "terrible twos" (the age of tantrums where children just don't listen to words), then come back and tell me that smacking doesn't correct the situation. It works. As long as it isn't abused. Maybe an age limit on smacking might work...

Commenter

Parent

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

July 26, 2013, 8:33AM

You cannot hit a coworker who is behaving badly, or a man in the street who is annoying you, or kick the dog when it barks, so then why would it be ok to hit a small, defenceless child. It is assault. It is degrading and humiliating to the child. It teaches them fear and makes them lose trust. It should have been banned long ago.

Commenter

Kate

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

July 26, 2013, 8:39AM

Roslyn Phillips, research officer with Christian group FamilyVoice Australia, rejected claims that smacking was harmful, saying it was instructive for small children.

Once again, Christians setting the bar high for humanity.

Commenter

Riddley Walker

Location

Inland

Date and time

July 26, 2013, 8:43AM

When are we going to have a society that doesn't feel the need to protect us from ourselves? All this achieves is a society that can't take responsibility for itself. I grew up in a house where smacking was used extremely rarely, but when it was you knew you had crossed a line. it doesn't need to be used all the time, only in situations where it is needed.

Commenter

really?

Date and time

July 26, 2013, 8:45AM

I think there is a big difference between a smack and a hit. I think when parents go over the line it causes problems. My mum smacked me when I was naughty and I think I was better off for it and learned right and wrong behaviours from it.

Unfortunately though there are so many parents who don't know their own strength and boundaries and every child is different so there is no way of saying whether or not a child will get the same benefit I feel I did. There is no way of knowing if other parents (especially considering the extreme increase in teenaged parents we are now seeing) can show the same judgement and control my mother did.